Footstool

ABSTRACT

A displacement-resistant footstool ( 1 ) comprising a sole-supporting surface ( 2 ), a ground-supported base ( 3 ) and connecting means ( 4 ) that connects the sole-supporting surface ( 2 ) to the base ( 3 ) and substantially redirects the sole-released forces, which are generated by the weight of the feet and a proportion of the weight of the legs plus any additional foot-pushing forces from a substantially horizontal direction that points away from the person to a substantially vertically downward direction towards and pressing onto the floor. In effect substantially converting the sole-released forces from being displacement forces to being displacement-resistant forces.

The present invention relates to a displacement-resistantsole-supporting footstool.

A footstool is normally used by a person to support the feet by usingthe back of the heels and or an area all the way up to the back of thecalves as a point or points of contact with the supporting surface ofthe footstool. Although this is traditionally regarded as a comfortableform of seating, it can encourage slouching.

An alternative way of supporting the feet is to use the soles as thepoint or points of contact with a supporting surface, which—especiallyif slightly angled so that the toes are higher than the heels—can helpto minimize slouching. However, unless the supporting surface that thesoles are being pushed against is of considerable stability, for exampleit is fixed to the floor or a wall, is of an abnormally heavy weight oris connected to the seat that the person is sitting on, the forces thatare generated by the weight of the feet and a proportion of the weightof the legs plus any additional foot-pushing forces will displace thesupporting surface away from the person and resulting in the soleslosing contact with the supporting surface.

An object of the invention is to provide a free-standing footstool ofnormal weight which can be used to support the soles of the feet.

The invention provides a displacement-resistant footstool as claimed inclaim 1.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one possible way of constructing theinvention, comprising a footstool 1 that consists of a rotationallyunstable sole-supporting surface 2 that consists of an upholstered panel2 a and lever arms 2 b; a ground-supported base 3 that consists of aplatform 3 a and rubber feet 3 b; and connecting means 4 that is hiddenunderneath a safety guard 4 c that has slots 4 d for lever arms 2 b tomove freely through.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic section of the same footstool as in FIG. 1, andillustrates the connecting means 4 that consists of a limited-travelhinge 4 a that only allows a travel of approximately 30° as indicated byreference number 5 a, and compression springing means 4 b. Alsoillustrated in FIG. 2 is the angle at which the bottoms of lever arms 2b are bent (permanently) which is approximately 30° , as illustrated byreference number 2 b′. The initial angle of the sole-supporting surfacein relation to the floor is approximately 60° as indicated by referencenumber 5 b, which is the angle at which the soles touch thesole-supporting surface on first contact.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic section of the same footstool as in FIGS. 1 and2, but with the person's feet 6 in contact with the sole-supportingsurface 2 that is shown at its downward resting angle, which isapproximately 30° in relation to the floor, as indicated by referencenumber 5 c.

When the soles come into contact with the sole-supporting surface 2, theweight of the feet and a proportion of the weight of the legs plus anyadditional foot-pushing forces will cause the sole-supporting surface—asa result of its rotational instability—to drop downwards taking the feetalong with it until the resting angle is reached. At this point,although the sole-supporting surface 2 will be at a 30° angle in therelation to the floor—as illustrated by reference number 5 c in FIG.3—the bottoms of lever arms 2 b will be pressing onto the hinge 4 a in avertical direction. This means that the sole-released forces, whichoriginated at a substantially horizontal direction that points away fromthe person have been redirected to a substantially vertically downwarddirection towards—and pressing onto—the floor. In effect, thesole-released forces will have been substantially converted from beingdisplacement forces to being displacement-resistant forces.

The invention can also be manufactured using a variety of manufacturingtechniques including multi-segment/function moulded plastics, foam orrubber.

1. A displacement-resistant footstool comprising a partially unstablesole-supporting surface, a ground-supported base and connecting meansthat connects the sole-supporting surface to the base so that when thesoles touch the sole-supporting surface the sole-supporting surfacemoves whereby the connecting means substantially redirects thesole-released forces downwards and thus converting them intodisplacement-resistant forces.
 2. A displacement-resistant footstoolaccording to claim 1, in which the connecting means triggers therebounding of the sole-supporting surface to its initial position whenthe footstool is not in use.
 3. A displacement-resistant footstoolaccording to claim 2, in which the partial instability of thesole-supporting surface is horizontal instability.
 4. Adisplacement-resistant footstool according to claim 2, in which thepartial instability of the sole-supporting surface is verticalinstability.
 5. A displacement-resistant footstool according to claim 2,in which the partial instability of the sole-supporting surface isrotational instability.
 6. A displacement-resistant footstool as claimedin claim 2, in which the connecting means is a springing means.
 7. Adisplacement-resistant footstool as claimed in claim 6, in which theconnecting means is a nested springing means.
 8. Adisplacement-resistant footstool as claimed in claim 6, in which theconnecting means is springing means on a sloped platform.
 9. Adisplacement-resistant footstool as claimed in claim 8, in which theconnecting means is compression springing means on a sloped platform.10. A displacement-resistant footstool as claimed in claim 5, in whichthe connecting means is a combination of hinging means and springingmeans.
 11. A displacement-resistant footstool as claimed in claim 10, inwhich the connecting means is a combination of hinging means and torsionspringing means.
 12. A displacement-resistant footstool as claimed inclaim 10, in which the connecting means is a combination of hingingmeans and compression springing means.
 13. A displacement-resistantfootstool as claimed in claim 10, in which the connecting means is acombination of hinging means and suspension springing means.
 14. Adisplacement-resistant footstool as claimed in claim 5, in which theconnecting means is a combination of shafting means and clock springingmeans.
 15. A displacement-resistant footstool as claimed in claim 1, inwhich the connecting means is a gas cylinder means.
 16. Adisplacement-resistant footstool as claimed in claim 1, in which thedistance between the sole-supporting surface and the floor isadjustable.
 17. A displacement-resistant footstool as claimed in claim1, in which the sole-supporting surface is wide enough for at least 2persons to use it.
 18. A displacement-resistant footstool as claimed inclaim 1, in which there are at least 2 separate sole-supporting surfacesfor at least 2 persons to use separately.
 19. A displacement-resistantfootstool as claimed in claim 1, in which the resistance of theconnecting means is adjustable.
 20. A displacement-resistant footstoolas claimed in claim 5, in which the downward travel of thesole-supporting surface is adjustable. 21-22. (canceled)